4th of July

We spent the 4th of July in Cleveland this year.  My dad and Mary joined Elyria Country Club so they invited us up for the club's 4th of July festivities, which included a pool party, dinner buffet and fireworks.  To make the most of our weekend we headed up a day early so we could take the boat out on Lake Erie during the afternoon and introduce the kids to Bay Days on Saturday night.  Sunday was the party for the fourth and then we headed home on Monday.  It was a jam packed weekend, the kids were exhausted by the time it was over but it was fun and we made some really great memories!

Nolan on the boat.  This poor kid screamed his head off and held so tightly to me on the boat ride.  It was his first time out on Lake Erie so he wasn't used to the choppiness of the water and he was terrified.  He preferred to be anchored and eating his lunch and the ride back was much smoother.

Quinn on the other hand was a completely bored with the Nolan's hysterics and practically fell asleep on Mary's lap on the first leg of the boat ride.  Once docked, she jumped right on the tube and floated around with my dad's neighbor, Rocco, who joined us for the day.  She is our daredevil. 

Speaking of being a daredevil...she had so much fun at Bay Days riding all of the rides and there wasn't a ride that she hesitated to try.

Nolan is more cautious and preferred the rides that he felt safe on.  He really liked this on because of the gun.

Eric's parents met us for dinner and Bay Days so the three Holick men took a ride on the ferris wheel together.

What's a carnival without treats?!  Nolan got a huge bag of cotton candy and Quinn picked a funnel cake.

Bay Days is held in Bay Village right on the lake and there was such a pretty sunset that night.  It was fun going back to something that Eric and I used to go to as kids.

The next day Eric and my dad played golf while the rest of us had a lazy morning.  We all met up at the pool around lunch time for swimming, games, the DJ, and some food.  The pool's heater was broken but Eric and Nolan were brave enough to get in for a little bit.  Nolan even participated in a hula hoop contest and won some candy.

After the pool, we headed back to my dad's for naps and then ventured back to Elyria for dinner and fireworks.

The kids found a very green cricket type bug and were fascinated by it for a long time.

They sat us in the perfect spot for dinner.  Right in front of where the fireworks were going to be displayed and right next to the bar :)

Nolan had a firework and an American flag painted on his cheeks.

Quinn opted for a sparkly firework on her cheek and a cupcake on her hand.

Our view for the fireworks.  It was so nice and super convenient with the kids.

These were Quinn's first fireworks.  We tried to keep her up last Labor Day to see some but she didn't last.  It was fun to finally be able to watch fireworks as a family.  We have waited 5 years for this day!!

Quinn was passed out in the car within 30 seconds of leaving the fireworks.  Nolan was not far behind her.  It took the kids a couple of days to readjust from all of the fun but it was well worth it!